<p>A secret space plane was launched by China for the third time on Thursday (Dec 15) as the United States Space Force kept waiting for its X-37B to get off the pad after facing numerous delays.</p>

<p>The Chinese “reusable experimental spacecraft” lifted off successfully atop a Long March 2F rocket at around 11 pm (local time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert, reported state news agency Xinhua.</p>

<p>As with the other two launches in 2020 and 2022, technical details or images of the spacecraft were not revealed by Xinhua and they did not state how long the flight would be.</p>

<p>“It’s going to operate in orbit for a period of time before returning to its intended landing site in China,” said the report.</p>

<p>“Reusable technology verification and space science experiments will be carried out to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space,” said the report, while using the same wording which it was used for the 2020 and 2022 missions.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vp-harris-urges-president-biden-to-be-tougher-on-netanyahu-sparks-tensions-report-669927">US VP Harris urges President Biden to be 'tougher' on Netanyahu, sparks tensions: Report</a></p>

<p>Harvard astronomer Jonathan McDowell, who tracks space activities and rocket launches, said that the US Space Force was tracking the uncrewed plane in a roughly circular orbit nearly 300km in altitude.</p>

<p>“This is very similar to the first launch in 2020. The second launch in 2022 went to a slightly higher orbit of 345 x 593km,” he said, as reported by the South China Morning Post.</p>

<h2><strong>US spacecraft waits for launch</strong></h2>

<p>Its US counterpart Boeing X-37B, which was originally scheduled to take off at a similar time, remained grounded atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in Florida's Kennedy Space Centre, after postponements due to launch site issues and poor weather.</p>

<p>The mission, which is called as USSF-52, will be the seventh mission of the US plane to orbit since 2010 and the second ride with a SpaceX rocket.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Few US adults want a Biden-Trump rematch, says survey</strong></p>

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<p>In a statement, Space Force in November said that it has been planning to carry out multiple ranges of tests, which include experimenting with future space domain awareness, operating in new orbital regimes and investigating the effect of radiation on materials. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The US military has been tight-lipped about the capabilities and objectives of X-37B, which makes it one of the most enigmatic spacecraft known to take&nbsp;flight.</p>

<p>Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman said that the future of X-37B can be brighter because of the competition between China and the Pentagon.</p>

<p>On Wednesday (Dec 13), Space X cancelled the launch of the US military's X-37B robot spaceplane and wrote on X, "We are standing down from tomorrow's Falcon Heavy launch of USSF-52 to perform additional system checkouts."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A secret space plane was launched by China for the third time on Thursday (Dec 15) as the United States Space Force kept waiting for its X-37B to get off the pad after facing numerous delays.

A secret space plane was launched by China for the third time on Thursday (Dec 15) as the United States Space Force kept waiting for its X-37B to get off the pad after facing numerous delays. The Chinese “reusable experimental spacecraft” lifted off successfully atop a Long March 2F rocket at around 11 pm (local time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert, reported state news agency Xinhua. As with the other two launches in 2020 and 2022, technical details or images of the spacecraft were not revealed by Xinhua and they did not state how long the flight would be. “It’s going to operate in orbit for a period of time before returning to its intended landing site in China,” said the report. “Reusable technology verification and space science experiments will be carried out to provide technical support for the peaceful use of space,” said the report, while using the same wording which it was used for the 2020 and 2022 missions. Also read: US VP Harris urges President Biden to be 'tougher' on Netanyahu, sparks tensions: Report Harvard astronomer Jonathan McDowell, who tracks space activities and rocket launches, said that the US Space Force was tracking the uncrewed plane in a roughly circular orbit nearly 300km in altitude. “This is very similar to the first launch in 2020. The second launch in 2022 went to a slightly higher orbit of 345 x 593km,” he said, as reported by the South China Morning Post. US spacecraft waits for launch Its US counterpart Boeing X-37B, which was originally scheduled to take off at a similar time, remained grounded atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in Florida's Kennedy Space Centre, after postponements due to launch site issues and poor weather. The mission, which is called as USSF-52, will be the seventh mission of the US plane to orbit since 2010 and the second ride with a SpaceX rocket. Watch: Few US adults want a Biden-Trump rematch, says survey In a statement, Space Force in November said that it has been planning to carry out multiple ranges of tests, which include experimenting with future space domain awareness, operating in new orbital regimes and investigating the effect of radiation on materials. The US military has been tight-lipped about the capabilities and objectives of X-37B, which makes it one of the most enigmatic spacecraft known to take flight. Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman said that the future of X-37B can be brighter because of the competition between China and the Pentagon. On Wednesday (Dec 13), Space X cancelled the launch of the US military's X-37B robot spaceplane and wrote on X, "We are standing down from tomorrow's Falcon Heavy launch of USSF-52 to perform additional system checkouts." (With inputs from agencies)

US plans to beat China in launch of secret space plane. SpaceX foils plan

The longest losing streak on record in Hong Kong’s $4.6 trillion stock market is hurting the city’s financial industry. The historic slump and job losses are adding to questions about the future of the city’s position as Asia’s top international finance center. We delve a little deeper to understand the rumblings in Hong Kong in this next report.

Historic slump in Hong Kong’s $4.6 trillion stock market

<p>SpaceX, under Elon Musk, is in the process of exploring a tender offer that values the private space exploration company at $175 billion or more. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A Bloomberg report, citing sources familiar with the matter, revealed that discussions are underway regarding insider shares, with the tender offer potentially ranging between $500 million to $750 million. The proposed share price is around $95 per share, though terms and the offer's size may evolve based on interest from both sellers and buyers within the company.</p>

<p>This valuation represents a significant premium compared to the $150 billion valuation SpaceX secured through a tender offer earlier this summer. &nbsp;</p>

<p>SpaceX, headquartered in Hawthorne, California, currently stands as the most valuable start-up in the United States, dominating the commercial space launch services market with its highly successful Falcon rockets. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In addition to its achievements in space launches, SpaceX is recognised for its role in sending payloads into orbit for private-sector clients, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and various government agencies. The company's diverse portfolio includes the revolutionary Starlink service, providing internet from space. Anchored by a growing constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit, Starlink has contributed to SpaceX's expanding influence in the broader space industry.</p>

<p>While details of the tender offer remain confidential, the move signifies SpaceX's continued efforts to leverage its market dominance and technological innovations to attract investment. The space exploration company has been at the forefront of industry advancements, and this financial manoeuvre further highlights its commitment to pushing boundaries and securing a prominent position in the evolving landscape of space exploration and satellite-based services. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Bloomberg)</em></p>

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SpaceX, under Elon Musk, is in the process of exploring a tender offer that values the private space exploration company at $175 billion or more. A Bloomberg report, citing sources familiar with the matter, revealed that discussions are underway regarding insider shares, with the tender offer potentially ranging between $500 million to $750 million.

SpaceX, under Elon Musk, is in the process of exploring a tender offer that values the private space exploration company at $175 billion or more. A Bloomberg report, citing sources familiar with the matter, revealed that discussions are underway regarding insider shares, with the tender offer potentially ranging between $500 million to $750 million. The proposed share price is around $95 per share, though terms and the offer's size may evolve based on interest from both sellers and buyers within the company. This valuation represents a significant premium compared to the $150 billion valuation SpaceX secured through a tender offer earlier this summer. SpaceX, headquartered in Hawthorne, California, currently stands as the most valuable start-up in the United States, dominating the commercial space launch services market with its highly successful Falcon rockets. In addition to its achievements in space launches, SpaceX is recognised for its role in sending payloads into orbit for private-sector clients, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and various government agencies. The company's diverse portfolio includes the revolutionary Starlink service, providing internet from space. Anchored by a growing constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit, Starlink has contributed to SpaceX's expanding influence in the broader space industry. While details of the tender offer remain confidential, the move signifies SpaceX's continued efforts to leverage its market dominance and technological innovations to attract investment. The space exploration company has been at the forefront of industry advancements, and this financial manoeuvre further highlights its commitment to pushing boundaries and securing a prominent position in the evolving landscape of space exploration and satellite-based services. (With inputs from Bloomberg) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

SpaceX initiates tender offer, eyes valuation of $175 billion in share sale

<p>USA’s Artemis III mission, which intends to take it back to the Moon, is facing significant roadblocks and is expected to breach its 2025 schedule deadline.</p>

<p>The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Thursday (Nov 30) blamed the delay on two problems: SpaceX’s failure to fully develop its ‘Starship Human Landing System’ or HLS and the delay in developing the Axiom spacesuit, selected especially for lunar operations.</p>

<p>"NASA and its contractors have made progress, including completing several important milestones, but they still face multiple challenges," the GAO noted. "As a result, GAO found that the Artemis III crewed lunar landing is unlikely to occur in 2025," it added.</p>

<h2><strong>Problems with HLS</strong></h2>

<p>HLS has so far failed to reach the Earth’s orbit in tests, thus warranting a lot of work before it gets ready for the job.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the plans, the Starship will first reach Earth’s orbit unmanned. Astronauts will enter the Spaceship in the Moon’s orbit to get down on the lunar surface. Those humans are expected to get over to our natural satellite using NASA's Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Chandrayaan-3: First-ever recording of Moon-quakes | WION Fineprint</strong></p>

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<p>"NASA documentation states that SpaceX has made limited progress maturing the technologies needed to support this aspect of its plan," the GAO reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-will-collide-with-moon-this-is-what-a-rogue-star-can-do-to-our-solar-system-664214"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;A rogue star can send Earth smashing into Moon, wiping out all life, study finds</strong></a></p>

<p>As per GAO, both SpaceX and HLS have delayed eight out of 13 key programmes. Of those 13 events, at least two will take place in 2025. It means that the 2025 deadline for the overall mission is not expected to be fulfilled.</p>

<p>"If the HLS development takes as many months as NASA major projects do, on average, the Artemis III mission would likely occur in early 2027," the GAO said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Problems with the spacesuit</strong></h2>

<p>And then, the development of the spacesuit has also hit major roadblocks. For example, Axiom missed a key preliminary design review deadline which was scheduled to take place earlier this month.</p>

<p>GAO noted that the spacesuit was still “in the early phases of development."</p>

<p>“So don't expect to tune into another historic Moon landing in late 2025,” GAO concluded.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


USA’s Artemis III mission, which intends to take it back to the Moon, is facing significant roadblocks and is expected to breach its 2025 schedule deadline. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Thursday (Nov 30) blamed the delay on two problems: SpaceX’s failure to fully develop its ‘Starship Human Landing System’ or HLS and the delay in developing the Axiom spacesuit, selected especially for lunar operations.

USA’s Artemis III mission, which intends to take it back to the Moon, is facing significant roadblocks and is expected to breach its 2025 schedule deadline. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Thursday (Nov 30) blamed the delay on two problems: SpaceX’s failure to fully develop its ‘Starship Human Landing System’ or HLS and the delay in developing the Axiom spacesuit, selected especially for lunar operations. "NASA and its contractors have made progress, including completing several important milestones, but they still face multiple challenges," the GAO noted. "As a result, GAO found that the Artemis III crewed lunar landing is unlikely to occur in 2025," it added. Problems with HLS HLS has so far failed to reach the Earth’s orbit in tests, thus warranting a lot of work before it gets ready for the job. As per the plans, the Starship will first reach Earth’s orbit unmanned. Astronauts will enter the Spaceship in the Moon’s orbit to get down on the lunar surface. Those humans are expected to get over to our natural satellite using NASA's Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule. Watch: Chandrayaan-3: First-ever recording of Moon-quakes | WION Fineprint × "NASA documentation states that SpaceX has made limited progress maturing the technologies needed to support this aspect of its plan," the GAO reported. Also read: A rogue star can send Earth smashing into Moon, wiping out all life, study finds As per GAO, both SpaceX and HLS have delayed eight out of 13 key programmes. Of those 13 events, at least two will take place in 2025. It means that the 2025 deadline for the overall mission is not expected to be fulfilled. "If the HLS development takes as many months as NASA major projects do, on average, the Artemis III mission would likely occur in early 2027," the GAO said. Problems with the spacesuit And then, the development of the spacesuit has also hit major roadblocks. For example, Axiom missed a key preliminary design review deadline which was scheduled to take place earlier this month. GAO noted that the spacesuit was still “in the early phases of development." “So don't expect to tune into another historic Moon landing in late 2025,” GAO concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Artemis III: No Moon landing in 2025 as SpaceX keeps missing deadlines

<p>After the Starship was launched by Space X last week, it was followed by an emotional moment as the founder of the company and the richest man in the world Elon Musk met his father Errol Musk after seven years.<br />
<br />
As per a report published in The Sun, the reunion happened at Boca Chica in Texas. The launch was attended by Errol Musk with his former wife Heide as well as granddaughter Cora.<br />
<br />
The father and son have shared a tense relationship in the last few years, however, this time they decided to put their differences aside and meet each other.<br />
<br />
The last time the father-son duo was together was in 2016 when Elon Musk celebrated his father's 70th birthday along with his brother Kimbal, according to The Sun.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-declares-x-will-donate-its-revenue-to-hospitals-in-israel-and-gaza-661397">Elon Musk says X will donate ad revenue linked to war to hospitals in Israel and Gaza</a></p>

<p>It reported that Errol Musk was taken by surprise after he received the invite for the launch of Starship. "The family cried. It was pretty emotional stuff. Errol was very happy to see Elon, and Elon appeared very happy to see his father," said Heidi, while speaking to The Sun.<br />
<br />
"They immediately sat down at Elon's table next to one another and started talking as though no time had passed," she further added.<br />
<br />
Heidi called it a "touching moment" and said that the father and son spoke to each other for a long time.</p>

<h2><strong>SpaceX announces 'incredibly successful day'</strong></h2>

<p>This was the first time that the Starship spacecraft was able to go into space after the launch. However, eight minutes after lift-off, the spacecraft exploded above the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
<br />
However, a SpaceX announcer called it an "incredibly successful day". "Even though we did have a... rapid unscheduled disassembly of both the Super Heavy Booster and the ship," said the announcer.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Elon Musk's Tesla to enter India soon?</strong></p>

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<p>Unlike the previous attempt which was made in April, there was a successful separation of the booster rocket from the mega ship, however, the rocket blew up and shortly after the spaceship also blasted into space.<br />
<br />
Elon Musk has been hoping that Starship will be used one day for colonising Mars. At the launch, after the combination of the two stages of Starship, the rocket stood 397 feet (121 metres) tall, which is more than the Statue of Liberty's height of 90 feet.<br />
<br />
Starship is the largest rocket ever created and its launch was among the biggest events for SpaceX.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


After the Starship was launched by Space X last week, it was followed by an emotional moment as the founder of the company and the richest man in the world Elon Musk met his father Errol Musk after seven years.

After the Starship was launched by Space X last week, it was followed by an emotional moment as the founder of the company and the richest man in the world Elon Musk met his father Errol Musk after seven years. As per a report published in The Sun, the reunion happened at Boca Chica in Texas. The launch was attended by Errol Musk with his former wife Heide as well as granddaughter Cora. The father and son have shared a tense relationship in the last few years, however, this time they decided to put their differences aside and meet each other. The last time the father-son duo was together was in 2016 when Elon Musk celebrated his father's 70th birthday along with his brother Kimbal, according to The Sun. Also read: Elon Musk says X will donate ad revenue linked to war to hospitals in Israel and Gaza It reported that Errol Musk was taken by surprise after he received the invite for the launch of Starship. "The family cried. It was pretty emotional stuff. Errol was very happy to see Elon, and Elon appeared very happy to see his father," said Heidi, while speaking to The Sun. "They immediately sat down at Elon's table next to one another and started talking as though no time had passed," she further added. Heidi called it a "touching moment" and said that the father and son spoke to each other for a long time. SpaceX announces 'incredibly successful day' This was the first time that the Starship spacecraft was able to go into space after the launch. However, eight minutes after lift-off, the spacecraft exploded above the Gulf of Mexico. However, a SpaceX announcer called it an "incredibly successful day". "Even though we did have a... rapid unscheduled disassembly of both the Super Heavy Booster and the ship," said the announcer. Watch: Elon Musk's Tesla to enter India soon? Unlike the previous attempt which was made in April, there was a successful separation of the booster rocket from the mega ship, however, the rocket blew up and shortly after the spaceship also blasted into space. Elon Musk has been hoping that Starship will be used one day for colonising Mars. At the launch, after the combination of the two stages of Starship, the rocket stood 397 feet (121 metres) tall, which is more than the Statue of Liberty's height of 90 feet. Starship is the largest rocket ever created and its launch was among the biggest events for SpaceX. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk meets his father after 7 years: 'The family cried'

SpaceX uphill track to the Stars continues with a minor setback on Saturday after the company's ambitious Starship lost its Co booster functionality minutes into takeoff. This marks the second unsuccessful test flight for the Starship with the previous one earlier in April this year.

SpaceX launches 22 Starlink satellites into orbit, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base | WION

<p>SpaceX lost communication with its Starship rocket minutes after it entered space, for the first time, during its second launch attempt. As per reports, the mission is presumed to have failed.&nbsp;“We have lost the data from the second stage… we think we may have lost the second stage,” SpaceX’s livestream host John Insprucker reportedly said.</p>

<p>The booster, which was supposed to have water landing exploded. SpaceX said the booster saw a "rapid unscheduled disassembly shortly after stage separation."&nbsp;</p>

<p>SpaceX founder Elon Musk made another attempt to launch the groundbreaking rocket, Starship, after the April setback.&nbsp;The rocket's initial flight in April garnered attention for all the wrong reasons, as it lost control and exploded just four minutes after takeoff in Texas.</p>

<p>Engineers at Musk's SpaceX implemented modifications to enhance Starship's reliability. The much-anticipated lift-off took place from Boca Chica, a coastal town, within a 20-minute window starting at 13:00 GMT.</p>

<p>The mission objective is consistent with the previous failed attempt made by Starship in April this year. Should the launch go according to the plan, the spacecraft is poised to complete nearly a full revolution around the Earth.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earth-without-oxygen-this-is-when-our-planet-will-lose-an-oxygen-rich-atmosphere-660107">Earth without oxygen? This is when our planet will lose an oxygen-rich atmosphere</a></p>

<p>The purpose of the mission is to send the top part of the two-stage vehicle, known as the Ship, around the Earth.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Liftoff of Starship! <a href="https://t.co/qXnGXXZP5k">pic.twitter.com/qXnGXXZP5k</a></p>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1725862657780281349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Starship, a cutting-edge two-stage super heavy-lift launch vehicle, and spacecraft, stands as the tallest and most powerful. The primary goal behind Starship's design is full reusability, with both stages intended to be recovered and reused.</p>

<p>The uncrewed craft is expected to make an ocean splashdown near Kauai, one of the Hawaiian islands.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/mars-vanishes-in-rare-celestial-event-will-come-back-after-2-weeks-660104">Mars vanishes in rare celestial event, will come back after 2 weeks</a></p>

<p>Success with Starship could mark a revolutionary breakthrough, media reports said adding that this achievement would align with Musk's ambitious goal of establishing a human settlement on Mars by facilitating more efficient transport of people and supplies.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pak-arming-israel-as-pro-palestinian-rallies-take-place-in-country-660124">Pak arming Israel as pro-Palestinian rallies take place in country?</a></strong></p>

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<p>Musk's vision is a fully reusable rocket capable of placing over a hundred tonnes into orbit in a single launch, dramatically reducing the cost of space activities. As per a post by SpaceX on the X social media platform, Starship was fully loaded with more than 4500 metric tonnes (10 million pounds) of propellant.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


SpaceX lost communication with its Starship rocket minutes after it entered space, for the first time, during its second launch attempt. As per reports, the mission is presumed to have failed.

SpaceX lost communication with its Starship rocket minutes after it entered space, for the first time, during its second launch attempt. As per reports, the mission is presumed to have failed. “We have lost the data from the second stage… we think we may have lost the second stage,” SpaceX’s livestream host John Insprucker reportedly said. The booster, which was supposed to have water landing exploded. SpaceX said the booster saw a "rapid unscheduled disassembly shortly after stage separation." SpaceX founder Elon Musk made another attempt to launch the groundbreaking rocket, Starship, after the April setback. The rocket's initial flight in April garnered attention for all the wrong reasons, as it lost control and exploded just four minutes after takeoff in Texas. Engineers at Musk's SpaceX implemented modifications to enhance Starship's reliability. The much-anticipated lift-off took place from Boca Chica, a coastal town, within a 20-minute window starting at 13:00 GMT. The mission objective is consistent with the previous failed attempt made by Starship in April this year. Should the launch go according to the plan, the spacecraft is poised to complete nearly a full revolution around the Earth. Also Read | Earth without oxygen? This is when our planet will lose an oxygen-rich atmosphere The purpose of the mission is to send the top part of the two-stage vehicle, known as the Ship, around the Earth. Liftoff of Starship! pic.twitter.com/qXnGXXZP5k — SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 18, 2023 × Starship, a cutting-edge two-stage super heavy-lift launch vehicle, and spacecraft, stands as the tallest and most powerful. The primary goal behind Starship's design is full reusability, with both stages intended to be recovered and reused. The uncrewed craft is expected to make an ocean splashdown near Kauai, one of the Hawaiian islands. Also Read | Mars vanishes in rare celestial event, will come back after 2 weeks Success with Starship could mark a revolutionary breakthrough, media reports said adding that this achievement would align with Musk's ambitious goal of establishing a human settlement on Mars by facilitating more efficient transport of people and supplies. Watch | Pak arming Israel as pro-Palestinian rallies take place in country? × Musk's vision is a fully reusable rocket capable of placing over a hundred tonnes into orbit in a single launch, dramatically reducing the cost of space activities. As per a post by SpaceX on the X social media platform, Starship was fully loaded with more than 4500 metric tonnes (10 million pounds) of propellant. (With inputs from agencies)

Starship loses contact with SpaceX, booster explodes minutes after launch

SpaceX Starship launch gets off successful start, explodes within minutes

SpaceX's Starship spacecraft blasted off from the Starbase launch site near Boca Chica in Texas, on a test flight. The two-stage rocket ship developed to carry astronauts to the moon and beyond, reached space for the first time but was presumed to have failed minutes later.

SpaceX's spaceship blasted off from Starbase in Texas

Billionaire Elon Musk has denied a report that his rocket company SpaceX was discussing an initial public offering for its satellite internet business, Starlink, as soon as 2024. Musk called the Bloomberg report "false". The news report stated that SpaceX had been moving Starlink's assets to a wholly owned unit that would ultimately be spun off.

Elon Musk denies Starlink IPO report | World Business Watch

<p>Tech mogul Elon Musk dismissed recent speculations about SpaceX contemplating an initial public offering (IPO) for its satellite internet division, Starlink, by 2024. Responding to a Bloomberg News report shared on social media, Musk labelled the information as "false." The report had suggested that SpaceX was in discussions to spin off Starlink by transferring its assets to a wholly owned unit. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Musk has consistently expressed his intention to take Starlink public when the company achieves a stable and predictable trajectory in revenue growth and cash flow. Despite ongoing rumours, Musk clarified that the proposed IPO timeline was inaccurate. &nbsp;</p>

<p>SpaceX, valued at approximately $150 billion, stands as a pioneering force in space exploration, becoming the first private company to successfully send humans into orbit. The company's groundbreaking achievements, particularly in the development of reusable rockets, have set new industry standards and posed challenges for competitors like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Starlink, a vital component of SpaceX's portfolio, has emerged as the world's largest satellite operator, contributing significantly to the company's overall value. &nbsp;</p>

<p>While the IPO plans for Starlink might not materialise as early as 2024, analysts like Justus Parmar, Founder and CEO of venture capital firm Fortuna Investments, anticipate that Musk may consider taking Starlink public in 2025 or 2026. Parmar emphasised that Musk is likely waiting for a level of stability and predictability in Starlink's revenue before making such a strategic move. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The potential IPO, when executed, is anticipated to have a profound impact on the space industry, acting as a catalyst for various space-related endeavours. Musk has previously indicated that Starlink achieved cash-flow breakeven earlier this month, showcasing the financial viability of the satellite internet venture. &nbsp;</p>

<p><i>(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;</i></p>

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Tech mogul Elon Musk dismissed recent speculations about SpaceX contemplating an initial public offering (IPO) for its satellite internet division, Starlink, by 2024.

Tech mogul Elon Musk dismissed recent speculations about SpaceX contemplating an initial public offering (IPO) for its satellite internet division, Starlink, by 2024. Responding to a Bloomberg News report shared on social media, Musk labelled the information as "false." The report had suggested that SpaceX was in discussions to spin off Starlink by transferring its assets to a wholly owned unit. Musk has consistently expressed his intention to take Starlink public when the company achieves a stable and predictable trajectory in revenue growth and cash flow. Despite ongoing rumours, Musk clarified that the proposed IPO timeline was inaccurate. SpaceX, valued at approximately $150 billion, stands as a pioneering force in space exploration, becoming the first private company to successfully send humans into orbit. The company's groundbreaking achievements, particularly in the development of reusable rockets, have set new industry standards and posed challenges for competitors like Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin. Starlink, a vital component of SpaceX's portfolio, has emerged as the world's largest satellite operator, contributing significantly to the company's overall value. While the IPO plans for Starlink might not materialise as early as 2024, analysts like Justus Parmar, Founder and CEO of venture capital firm Fortuna Investments, anticipate that Musk may consider taking Starlink public in 2025 or 2026. Parmar emphasised that Musk is likely waiting for a level of stability and predictability in Starlink's revenue before making such a strategic move. The potential IPO, when executed, is anticipated to have a profound impact on the space industry, acting as a catalyst for various space-related endeavours. Musk has previously indicated that Starlink achieved cash-flow breakeven earlier this month, showcasing the financial viability of the satellite internet venture. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Elon Musk denies speculations surrounding Starlink’s IPO in 2024

<p>Elon Musk's SpaceX on Saturday (Nov 11) launched its Transporter-9 mission, a 'rideshare' flight that carried 90 payloads.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With this, SpaceX delivered over 1,000 tonnes into the orbit, which&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;says is a new 'world record'.</p>

<h2><strong>Musk claims world record</strong></h2>

<p>A few hours after the space flight took off from California, Elon Musk took to X, formerly Twitter, to announce that with this "Falcon has delivered over 1000 tonnes to orbit this year, a world record".</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/trouble-in-space-soaring-costs-of-nasas-mars-sample-return-mission-risks-other-projects-657819">Trouble in space: Soaring costs of NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission risk other significant projects</a></strong></p>

<p>In another post, Musk claimed that SpaceX's delivery could only be followed by the Soviet Union at its "peak" and in modern times can be compared to China — which he said has only undertaken one fourth of the payload.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This is significantly more than any country has launched with their entire rocket fleet in a year. Second is peak Soviet Union at ~500 tons.<br />
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For a present day comparison, the rest of the world has delivered ~250 tons to orbit so far this year, mostly by China.</p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1723425755739082961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>"This is significantly more than any country has launched with their entire rocket fleet in a year. Second is peak Soviet Union at ~500 tonnes."</p>

<p>"For a present day comparison, the rest of the world has delivered ~250 tonnes to orbit so far this year, mostly by China."</p>

<h2><strong>The space 'rideshare'</strong></h2>

<p>The Transporter-9 was launched by SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 10:49 am local time (1:49 pm EST; 1849 GMT) on November 11.</p>

<p>As per SpaceX mission details, this was "the 12th launch and landing of this Falcon 9 stage booster."</p>

<p>The 90 payloads included CubeSats, MicroSats, and orbital transfer vehicles, which, according to the mission description, will deploy more spacecraft at a later stage.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/curiosity-remains-strong-nasa-curiosity-rover-clocks-4000-days-in-mars-punishingly-cold-environment-656736">'Curiosity remains strong': Curiosity rover clocks 4,000 days in Mars' 'punishingly cold environment'</a></strong></p>

<p>"During this mission, 90 payloads were expected to deploy from Falcon 9 across 89 deployments, and 86 deployments have been confirmed," added the mission description on the SpaceX website.</p>

<p>Transporter 9, as per space.com, is SpaceX's 82nd orbital mission this year. This year, the rocket maker has broken its own previous record of 61 launches — in 2022. While the mission's 90 payloads are for sure hefty, Elon Musk's company holds the record of sending 143 satellites to orbit — with its Transporter-1 mission in January 2021.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Elon Musk's SpaceX on Saturday (Nov 11) launched its Transporter-9 mission, a 'rideshare' flight that carried 90 payloads. With this, SpaceX delivered over 1,000 tonnes into the orbit, which Musk says is a new 'world record'.

Elon Musk's SpaceX on Saturday (Nov 11) launched its Transporter-9 mission, a 'rideshare' flight that carried 90 payloads. With this, SpaceX delivered over 1,000 tonnes into the orbit, which Musk says is a new 'world record'. Musk claims world record A few hours after the space flight took off from California, Elon Musk took to X, formerly Twitter, to announce that with this "Falcon has delivered over 1000 tonnes to orbit this year, a world record". Also read | Trouble in space: Soaring costs of NASA's Mars Sample Return Mission risk other significant projects In another post, Musk claimed that SpaceX's delivery could only be followed by the Soviet Union at its "peak" and in modern times can be compared to China — which he said has only undertaken one fourth of the payload. This is significantly more than any country has launched with their entire rocket fleet in a year. Second is peak Soviet Union at ~500 tons. For a present day comparison, the rest of the world has delivered ~250 tons to orbit so far this year, mostly by China. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 11, 2023 × "This is significantly more than any country has launched with their entire rocket fleet in a year. Second is peak Soviet Union at ~500 tonnes." "For a present day comparison, the rest of the world has delivered ~250 tonnes to orbit so far this year, mostly by China." The space 'rideshare' The Transporter-9 was launched by SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 10:49 am local time (1:49 pm EST; 1849 GMT) on November 11. As per SpaceX mission details, this was "the 12th launch and landing of this Falcon 9 stage booster." The 90 payloads included CubeSats, MicroSats, and orbital transfer vehicles, which, according to the mission description, will deploy more spacecraft at a later stage. Also read | 'Curiosity remains strong': Curiosity rover clocks 4,000 days in Mars' 'punishingly cold environment' "During this mission, 90 payloads were expected to deploy from Falcon 9 across 89 deployments, and 86 deployments have been confirmed," added the mission description on the SpaceX website. Transporter 9, as per space.com, is SpaceX's 82nd orbital mission this year. This year, the rocket maker has broken its own previous record of 61 launches — in 2022. While the mission's 90 payloads are for sure hefty, Elon Musk's company holds the record of sending 143 satellites to orbit — with its Transporter-1 mission in January 2021. (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk claims 'world record' for SpaceX delivering over 1,000 tonnes to orbit in 2023

Billionaire Elon Musk must be a happy man right now. That's because a fellow billionaire, Ron Baron, is bullish on SpaceX's future prospects. In an interview with a U.S. News network, Baron said that Elon Musk's SpaceX will be worth about 500 billion by 2030.

SpaceX to be worth $500 bn by 2030?

<p>It is a privately funded journey to Lunar orbit, the furthest that any commercial, crewed spaceflight mission has gone to date. Titled "dearMoon" and funded by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, the mission was scheduled to take place in late 2023 and with less than two months to go for 2024, the mission onboard a SpaceX Starship rocket is nowhere near fruition. On Thursday, Maezawa shared that the mission will take a little longer. "We're not sure when the flight will be, but we will give you all an update once we know more," Maezawa said in a social media post, thereby stating what was already certain for those closely following the space sector.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was in the year 2018&nbsp;that Yusaku Maezawa announced the project which would take eight individuals along with himself on a week-long return trip to the moon's orbit on board a SpaceX Starship and Superheavy rocket. At the closest, they'd hoped to be at least 200 km above the lunar surface. The initiative is aimed at promoting art and global peace, it was said. The crew includes artists from across domains, hailing from South Korea, the USA, the UK, Japan, the Czech Republic, India and Ireland.</p>

<p>The obvious cause for the delay is the development of the SpaceX Starship rocket that is meant to ferry the crew on this daring journey to the moon, that mankind last undertook in the early 1970s. Starship, also referred to as the most powerful rocket in the world, undertook its maiden test flight in April 2023 and exploded as it reached almost 38 km above the Earth's surface. Multiple engines on the rocket had failed, initial reports suggested.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the biggest validation for Elon Musk was the fact that this experimental rocket safely lifted off the launchpad and at least covered 40 per cent of the distance to the imaginary Karman line (100 km above the earth's surface). As a test flight mission, expectations were really low and the valuable flight data from the mission would prove crucial in performing more such tests&nbsp;after necessary modifications and technological tweaks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the maiden flight in April, efforts are underway to ensure a second test flight sometime in late 2023. However, given the various US Government approvals for the same, it is expected to take time. With no reliable rocket in sight for Maezawa's dearMoon mission, there seems to be no clarity on the mission's progress. Even if the second flight of Starship were to be completely successful, SpaceX would have to perform a full-fledged uncrewed mission to Lunar orbit and back to Earth&nbsp;in order to prove their systems. That is what pushes Maezawa's goal further into the future.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Indian television personality Dev Joshi is among the dearMoon crew and had earlier told WION about his optimism and excitement for the mission. "I trust Elon Musk and SpaceX", he had said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As part of the Artemis missions, NASA is working on sending astronauts to the moon and establishing a long-term presence on Earth's natural satellite. Despite&nbsp;America's Apollo-era legacy of multiple crewed lunar missions, extensive uncrewed testing is being carried out before the crewed missions commence. When it comes to crewed spaceflight, space agencies and private firms do as much as humanly possible to ensure the crew's safety. Crew safety is always more important than the overall mission.&nbsp;</p>


It is a privately funded journey to Lunar orbit, the furthest that any commercial, crewed spaceflight mission has gone to date. Titled "dearMoon" and funded by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, the mission was scheduled to take place in late 2023 and with less than two months to go for 2024, the mission onboard a SpaceX Starship rocket is nowhere near fruition.

It is a privately funded journey to Lunar orbit, the furthest that any commercial, crewed spaceflight mission has gone to date. Titled "dearMoon" and funded by Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, the mission was scheduled to take place in late 2023 and with less than two months to go for 2024, the mission onboard a SpaceX Starship rocket is nowhere near fruition. On Thursday, Maezawa shared that the mission will take a little longer. "We're not sure when the flight will be, but we will give you all an update once we know more," Maezawa said in a social media post, thereby stating what was already certain for those closely following the space sector. It was in the year 2018 that Yusaku Maezawa announced the project which would take eight individuals along with himself on a week-long return trip to the moon's orbit on board a SpaceX Starship and Superheavy rocket. At the closest, they'd hoped to be at least 200 km above the lunar surface. The initiative is aimed at promoting art and global peace, it was said. The crew includes artists from across domains, hailing from South Korea, the USA, the UK, Japan, the Czech Republic, India and Ireland. The obvious cause for the delay is the development of the SpaceX Starship rocket that is meant to ferry the crew on this daring journey to the moon, that mankind last undertook in the early 1970s. Starship, also referred to as the most powerful rocket in the world, undertook its maiden test flight in April 2023 and exploded as it reached almost 38 km above the Earth's surface. Multiple engines on the rocket had failed, initial reports suggested. However, the biggest validation for Elon Musk was the fact that this experimental rocket safely lifted off the launchpad and at least covered 40 per cent of the distance to the imaginary Karman line (100 km above the earth's surface). As a test flight mission, expectations were really low and the valuable flight data from the mission would prove crucial in performing more such tests after necessary modifications and technological tweaks. After the maiden flight in April, efforts are underway to ensure a second test flight sometime in late 2023. However, given the various US Government approvals for the same, it is expected to take time. With no reliable rocket in sight for Maezawa's dearMoon mission, there seems to be no clarity on the mission's progress. Even if the second flight of Starship were to be completely successful, SpaceX would have to perform a full-fledged uncrewed mission to Lunar orbit and back to Earth in order to prove their systems. That is what pushes Maezawa's goal further into the future. Indian television personality Dev Joshi is among the dearMoon crew and had earlier told WION about his optimism and excitement for the mission. "I trust Elon Musk and SpaceX", he had said. As part of the Artemis missions, NASA is working on sending astronauts to the moon and establishing a long-term presence on Earth's natural satellite. Despite America's Apollo-era legacy of multiple crewed lunar missions, extensive uncrewed testing is being carried out before the crewed missions commence. When it comes to crewed spaceflight, space agencies and private firms do as much as humanly possible to ensure the crew's safety. Crew safety is always more important than the overall mission.

dearMoon, a private spaceflight to moon funded by Japanese billionaire, delayed

Elon Musk's SpaceX is on track to book revenues of about 9 billion dollars & register earnings of over 3 billion dollars this year, across its rocket launch and Starlink businesses. Moreover, the company's sales are projected to rise to around 15 billion in 2024.

Report: SpaceX to book revenues of about $9 billion in 2023 | World Business Watch

<p>Elon Musk-led SpaceX has signed a deal for launching up to four satellites of Europe, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported. These are flagship navigation and secure communication satellites. The report however said that European Commission, the European Union's (EU) executive arm, along with EU member states would still have to give their seal of approval for the deal to go ahead.</p>

<p>Recently, the European Space Agency (ESA) signed an agreement with SpaceX for two launches set to take place next year. Two Galileo satellites would be sent into orbit during each launch.</p>

<p>The WSJ quoted Javier Benedicto, the ESA's director of navigation, who said that the agreement called for SpaceX launching these satellites using its Falcon 9 rocket.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | SpaceX plans to launch 144 missions in 2024</strong></p>

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<p>There was no immediate official comment either from the European Commission or SpaceX.</p>

<p>Last month, European space officials stressed that crucial timing decisions were to be taken in a matter of weeks on the return to flight of Europe's flagship space launchers following a series of delays.</p>

<p>SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket was recently used by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to launch a spacecraft containing The Psyche probe. The rocket blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cap Canaveral. The probe will travel 2.2 billion miles (3.5 billion kilometres) through space and reach Psyche, which is the largest of the several metal-rich asteroids in our Solar System.</p>

<p>The asteroid is roughly 173 miles (279 km) across at its widest. It is located on the outer fringes of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.</p>

<p>It is considered that Psych is a remnant of core of an ancient protoplanet. The Psyche probe is estimated to reach the asteroid in August 2029.</p>

<p>The launch of the Psych probe was streamed live on NASA TV and also on NASA's social media handles.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Elon Musk-led SpaceX has signed a deal for launching up to four satellites of Europe, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported. These are flagship navigation and secure communication satellites.

Elon Musk-led SpaceX has signed a deal for launching up to four satellites of Europe, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported. These are flagship navigation and secure communication satellites. The report however said that European Commission, the European Union's (EU) executive arm, along with EU member states would still have to give their seal of approval for the deal to go ahead. Recently, the European Space Agency (ESA) signed an agreement with SpaceX for two launches set to take place next year. Two Galileo satellites would be sent into orbit during each launch. The WSJ quoted Javier Benedicto, the ESA's director of navigation, who said that the agreement called for SpaceX launching these satellites using its Falcon 9 rocket. Watch | SpaceX plans to launch 144 missions in 2024 × There was no immediate official comment either from the European Commission or SpaceX. Last month, European space officials stressed that crucial timing decisions were to be taken in a matter of weeks on the return to flight of Europe's flagship space launchers following a series of delays. SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket was recently used by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to launch a spacecraft containing The Psyche probe. The rocket blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cap Canaveral. The probe will travel 2.2 billion miles (3.5 billion kilometres) through space and reach Psyche, which is the largest of the several metal-rich asteroids in our Solar System. The asteroid is roughly 173 miles (279 km) across at its widest. It is located on the outer fringes of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is considered that Psych is a remnant of core of an ancient protoplanet. The Psyche probe is estimated to reach the asteroid in August 2029. The launch of the Psych probe was streamed live on NASA TV and also on NASA's social media handles. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

SpaceX seals deal with ESA for launch of satellites: Report

The sky is not the limit for Elon Musk after launching the largest number of orbital satellites by a private company in 2023. Now it aims to expand the company.

SpaceX plans to launch 144 missions in 2024

SpaceX, the private space exploration company led by Elon Musk, is planning to launch 144 missions in 2024.

SpaceX aims to launch 144 missions next year

<p>SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk made a bold declaration that SpaceX could achieve a spacecraft landing on Mars within three to four years during a video conference at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.</p>

<p>He also expressed optimism about the SpaceX Starship, renowned as the largest and most potent launch vehicle ever constructed, indicating that it has a promising outlook for its upcoming flight. However, Musk's ambitious vision faces significant challenges and regulatory hurdles, and this article offers a detailed overview.</p>

<h2><strong>Musk's Mars landing ambition</strong></h2>

<p>Elon Musk's statement about the possibility of SpaceX landing a spacecraft on Mars within three to four years underscores his unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration.</p>

<p>SpaceX's Starship embarked on its maiden uncrewed test flight from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica on April 20, 2023.</p>

<p>The mission faced a major setback when the upper stage of the launch vehicle failed to separate from the lower-stage Super Heavy, leading to a mid-air explosion.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/elon-musks-x-formerly-twitter-strips-headlines-from-news-story-links-for-esthetics-642986">Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, strips headlines from news story links for ‘aesthetics’</a></p>

<p>Originally designed for a 90-minute debut flight, the mission was cut short in under four minutes, ending in failure.</p>

<p>Elon Musk acknowledged the importance of not setting overly optimistic expectations following the April explosion, emphasising SpaceX's commitment to learning from setbacks.</p>

<p>Despite the challenges, Musk continues to hold onto his long-standing aspiration of using the Starship rocket to facilitate human landings on Mars.</p>

<p>The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the Starship in September due to the April incident.</p>

<p>The FAA's decision followed the conclusion of an investigation into the explosion, which identified numerous potential contributing factors and prompted the agency to stipulate 63 corrective actions to prevent similar incidents.</p>

<p>A Reuters report suggested that the FAA might expedite a launch license for the Starship, possibly as early as October, pending successful resolution of the identified issues.</p>

<p>SpaceX maintains that it has effectively addressed all concerns outlined by the FAA.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Musk's Twitter takeover: Will Elon Musk testify in Twitter probe?</strong></p>

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<p>The company has yet to secure the necessary launch license from the federal regulator.</p>

<p>In addition to regulatory hurdles, SpaceX must obtain further environmental approvals for its future launches.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk made a bold declaration that SpaceX could achieve a spacecraft landing on Mars within three to four years during a video conference at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk made a bold declaration that SpaceX could achieve a spacecraft landing on Mars within three to four years during a video conference at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan. He also expressed optimism about the SpaceX Starship, renowned as the largest and most potent launch vehicle ever constructed, indicating that it has a promising outlook for its upcoming flight. However, Musk's ambitious vision faces significant challenges and regulatory hurdles, and this article offers a detailed overview. Musk's Mars landing ambition Elon Musk's statement about the possibility of SpaceX landing a spacecraft on Mars within three to four years underscores his unyielding commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration. SpaceX's Starship embarked on its maiden uncrewed test flight from the Starbase facility in Boca Chica on April 20, 2023. The mission faced a major setback when the upper stage of the launch vehicle failed to separate from the lower-stage Super Heavy, leading to a mid-air explosion. Also read | Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, strips headlines from news story links for ‘aesthetics’ Originally designed for a 90-minute debut flight, the mission was cut short in under four minutes, ending in failure. Elon Musk acknowledged the importance of not setting overly optimistic expectations following the April explosion, emphasising SpaceX's commitment to learning from setbacks. Despite the challenges, Musk continues to hold onto his long-standing aspiration of using the Starship rocket to facilitate human landings on Mars. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the Starship in September due to the April incident. The FAA's decision followed the conclusion of an investigation into the explosion, which identified numerous potential contributing factors and prompted the agency to stipulate 63 corrective actions to prevent similar incidents. A Reuters report suggested that the FAA might expedite a launch license for the Starship, possibly as early as October, pending successful resolution of the identified issues. SpaceX maintains that it has effectively addressed all concerns outlined by the FAA. Also watch | Musk's Twitter takeover: Will Elon Musk testify in Twitter probe? The company has yet to secure the necessary launch license from the federal regulator. In addition to regulatory hurdles, SpaceX must obtain further environmental approvals for its future launches. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Elon Musk asserts SpaceX could achieve Mars landing in '3 to 4 years'

<p>China is making strides in its efforts to create a second megaconstellation of satellites, known as G60 Starlink, designed to provide widespread broadband internet access and compete with SpaceX's renowned Starlink programme, South China Morning Post reported. G60 Starlink, supported by the Shanghai municipal government, is projected to encompass over 12,000 satellites positioned in low Earth orbit. This endeavour closely resembles another Chinese constellation named Guo Wang, often referred to as China's response to Starlink. It consists of approximately 13,000 satellites and is presently in development by the state-owned Guo Wang company.</p>

<h2><strong>Progress in satellite production</strong></h2>

<p>Recently, a delegation led by Cheng Xiangmin, the party secretary of Shanghai's Songjiang district, conducted an inspection of a newly established facility in western Shanghai.</p>

<p>This facility is dedicated to the large-scale manufacturing of G60 satellites.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/romania-reports-airspace-breach-during-ukraine-attacks-zelensky-attracts-arms-makers-641187">Romania reports 'airspace breach' during drone attacks on neighbouring Ukraine</a></p>

<p>During their visit, they engaged with industrial partners involved in the G60 Starlink project, including Shanghai Alliance Investment and Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology, to gain insights into their advancements.</p>

<p>“Paying close attention to the construction goals and timeline of the G60 Starlink project, we have worked hard to roll out investment and help boost technology transfer in the sector,” a representative from Shanghai Alliance Investment said.</p>

<h2><strong>Project milestones</strong></h2>

<p>In July, Cheng announced that experimental satellites had already been launched and successfully interconnected in space. The project's initial phase is aimed to deploy nearly 1,300 satellites into orbit.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-khalistan-radicals-prevent-indian-high-commissioner-from-entering-gurdwara-641133">UK Khalistani radicals prevent Indian high commissioner from entering Gurdwara</a></p>

<p>The G60 Starlink initiative is part of the G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor initiative, initially proposed by the Songjiang government in 2016.</p>

<h2>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russias-wagner-return-in-the-east-alarms-ukraine-641239">Russia's Wagner return in the east alarms Ukraine</a></h2>

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<p>This larger endeavor is focused on promoting technological innovation enterprises and advanced manufacturing industries along the G60 expressway, which spans over 2,360 kilometers (1,470 miles) and connects Shanghai to the southwestern city of Kunming.</p>

<h2><strong>Competition in the satellite internet space</strong></h2>

<p>SpaceX faces competition from other satellite internet providers, including OneWeb, the world's second-largest provider with over 600 satellites in orbit, Blue Origin's Project Kuiper, and the European Union's IRIS² constellation. SpaceX recently announced that it has amassed 2 million active customers across more than 60 countries for its space-based internet broadband service.</p>

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China is making strides in its efforts to create a second megaconstellation of satellites, known as G60 Starlink, designed to provide widespread broadband internet access and compete with SpaceX's renowned Starlink programme, South China Morning Post reported.

China is making strides in its efforts to create a second megaconstellation of satellites, known as G60 Starlink, designed to provide widespread broadband internet access and compete with SpaceX's renowned Starlink programme, South China Morning Post reported. G60 Starlink, supported by the Shanghai municipal government, is projected to encompass over 12,000 satellites positioned in low Earth orbit. This endeavour closely resembles another Chinese constellation named Guo Wang, often referred to as China's response to Starlink. It consists of approximately 13,000 satellites and is presently in development by the state-owned Guo Wang company. Progress in satellite production Recently, a delegation led by Cheng Xiangmin, the party secretary of Shanghai's Songjiang district, conducted an inspection of a newly established facility in western Shanghai. This facility is dedicated to the large-scale manufacturing of G60 satellites. Also Read | Romania reports 'airspace breach' during drone attacks on neighbouring Ukraine During their visit, they engaged with industrial partners involved in the G60 Starlink project, including Shanghai Alliance Investment and Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology, to gain insights into their advancements. “Paying close attention to the construction goals and timeline of the G60 Starlink project, we have worked hard to roll out investment and help boost technology transfer in the sector,” a representative from Shanghai Alliance Investment said. Project milestones In July, Cheng announced that experimental satellites had already been launched and successfully interconnected in space. The project's initial phase is aimed to deploy nearly 1,300 satellites into orbit. Also Read | UK Khalistani radicals prevent Indian high commissioner from entering Gurdwara The G60 Starlink initiative is part of the G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor initiative, initially proposed by the Songjiang government in 2016. Watch | Russia's Wagner return in the east alarms Ukraine × This larger endeavor is focused on promoting technological innovation enterprises and advanced manufacturing industries along the G60 expressway, which spans over 2,360 kilometers (1,470 miles) and connects Shanghai to the southwestern city of Kunming. Competition in the satellite internet space SpaceX faces competition from other satellite internet providers, including OneWeb, the world's second-largest provider with over 600 satellites in orbit, Blue Origin's Project Kuiper, and the European Union's IRIS² constellation. SpaceX recently announced that it has amassed 2 million active customers across more than 60 countries for its space-based internet broadband service. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

China pushes for second 12,000-satellite megaconstellation to challenge SpaceX dominance

Telesat, the Canadian satellite operator, has just inked a game-changing deal with Spacex. Telesat's ambitious light-speed constellation is set to take a giant leap forward with Spacex as its launch partner.

Telesat partners with Spacex for light-speed satellite

<p>On Monday, Canada’s Telesat said that it had reached a deal with SpaceX to begin launching its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2026, with the intention of offering international internet access from space by the end of 2027.</p>

<p>Since LEO satellites orbit 36 times closer to Earth than conventional ones, information is transmitted and received more quickly, improving broadband coverage even in remote locations.</p>

<p>The LEO constellation launched by Telesat is named Lightspeed.</p>

<p>“It is another big step forward on our path to get Lightspeed up there,” Reuters quoted Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg as saying.</p>

<p>The deal, which covers 14 launches, was not valued. According to the firm, the constellation will be deployed by the end of 2027, when Telesat intends to offer a global service. Each Falcon 9 rocket will be able to launch up to 18 satellites into orbit. This comes three years after the original deadline.</p>

<p>Telesat’s stock declined 5.3 per cent to Canadian $21.99 ($16.20), following an early trade gain of about 3.2 per cent.</p>

<p>Last month, Telesat said that by hiring Canada’s MDA Ltd to construct 198 satellites, it would save $2 billion. Thales Alenia Space received the contract in 2021.</p>

<p>Thales informed Telesat roughly two years ago that it could no longer match with the agreed price and timetable due to “COVID hit, and supply chain issues hit, and inflation hit,” Reuters cited Goldberg.</p>

<p>The 14 launches will be carried out by SpaceX, which “gives us scope to expand the constellation above and beyond the 198 (satellites) that we've committed to with MDA,” Goldberg told Reuters.</p>

<p>With the goal of serving corporate customers, such as mobile operators, governments, aircraft and shipping corporations, Telesat is entering the competitive new world of LEO networks.</p>

<p>The majority of the LEO competition, which also includes Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and its Project Kuiper and SpaceX’s Starlink network, is geared at the consumer market.</p>

<p>Large bulk launch contracts like Telesat’s SpaceX contract have significantly reduced the U.S. launch supply in recent years due to satellite constellations.</p>

<p>The largest commercial launch contract in history was won by Amazon in 2022 for 83 missions across different launch firms to deploy its Kuiper network. With the aid of its expanding Starlink constellation, SpaceX hopes to roughly double its current yearly launch rate by 2023.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from Reuters)</em></p>

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On Monday, Canada’s Telesat said that it had reached a deal with SpaceX to begin launching its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2026, with the intention of offering international internet access from space by the end of 2027.

On Monday, Canada’s Telesat said that it had reached a deal with SpaceX to begin launching its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in 2026, with the intention of offering international internet access from space by the end of 2027. Since LEO satellites orbit 36 times closer to Earth than conventional ones, information is transmitted and received more quickly, improving broadband coverage even in remote locations. The LEO constellation launched by Telesat is named Lightspeed. “It is another big step forward on our path to get Lightspeed up there,” Reuters quoted Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg as saying. The deal, which covers 14 launches, was not valued. According to the firm, the constellation will be deployed by the end of 2027, when Telesat intends to offer a global service. Each Falcon 9 rocket will be able to launch up to 18 satellites into orbit. This comes three years after the original deadline. Telesat’s stock declined 5.3 per cent to Canadian $21.99 ($16.20), following an early trade gain of about 3.2 per cent. Last month, Telesat said that by hiring Canada’s MDA Ltd to construct 198 satellites, it would save $2 billion. Thales Alenia Space received the contract in 2021. Thales informed Telesat roughly two years ago that it could no longer match with the agreed price and timetable due to “COVID hit, and supply chain issues hit, and inflation hit,” Reuters cited Goldberg. The 14 launches will be carried out by SpaceX, which “gives us scope to expand the constellation above and beyond the 198 (satellites) that we've committed to with MDA,” Goldberg told Reuters. With the goal of serving corporate customers, such as mobile operators, governments, aircraft and shipping corporations, Telesat is entering the competitive new world of LEO networks. The majority of the LEO competition, which also includes Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and its Project Kuiper and SpaceX’s Starlink network, is geared at the consumer market. Large bulk launch contracts like Telesat’s SpaceX contract have significantly reduced the U.S. launch supply in recent years due to satellite constellations. The largest commercial launch contract in history was won by Amazon in 2022 for 83 missions across different launch firms to deploy its Kuiper network. With the aid of its expanding Starlink constellation, SpaceX hopes to roughly double its current yearly launch rate by 2023. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Canada’s Telesat joins hands with SpaceX to launch broadband satellites: Report

<p>As US billionaire Elon Musk acquired Twitter (Now X)&nbsp;in October, he is believed to have taken a loan of $1 billion from his rocket company SpaceX around the same time.</p>

<p>According to a report published in the Wall Street Journal, SpaceX approved the loan, backed by Musk’s stocks in the company. It must be noted that Musk promptly repaid the loan with interest the very next month, in November.</p>

<p>Musk took ownership of Twitter in October.</p>

<h2><strong>Musk is SpaceX’s largest shareholder</strong></h2>

<p>With 42 per cent shares, Musk is the largest stakeholder in SpaceX. He also owns almost 79 per cent of voting rights in the company as of March 2023.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Interestingly, when Musk withdrew $1 billion from SpaceX, the rocket company just had $4.7 billion in cash and securities on hand.</p>

<p>The world's wealthiest person also divested nearly $4 billion in Tesla stock in November. In total, Musk liquidated approximately $23 billion in his electric vehicle company's shares last year to support his Twitter acquisition.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Elon Musk to transform X into a super app with calling feature</strong></p>

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<p>Around $13 billion of Musk's $44 billion Twitter takeover deal was additionally facilitated by Wall Street institutions like Morgan Stanley and Bank of America. These loans were secured by some of Musk's Tesla stock.</p>

<h2><strong>Not Musk, Twitter is repaying debt</strong></h2>

<p>Rather than Musk, Twitter, now X,&nbsp;is responsible for repaying this debt, with annual interest payments amounting to roughly $1.5 billion.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/elon-musk-wants-to-take-over-worlds-financial-system-with-x-hints-latest-biography-631970"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Elon Musk wants to take over world`s financial system with X, hints latest biography</strong></a></p>

<p>Fidelity, a shareholder in X, has consistently reduced the company's valuation, estimating in May that it's now worth only one-third of Musk's original purchase price.</p>

<h2><strong>Not first time</strong></h2>

<p>This isn't the first instance of Musk borrowing from SpaceX; he previously disclosed borrowing $20 million from the company in 2009 to aid Tesla's funding.</p>

<p>According to the latest report from the WSJ, Musk also secured three loans totalling $500 million from SpaceX between 2018 and 2020, all of which were repaid by the end of 2021.</p>

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As US billionaire Elon Musk acquired Twitter (Now X) in October, he is believed to have taken a loan of $1 billion from his rocket company SpaceX around the same time.

As US billionaire Elon Musk acquired Twitter (Now X) in October, he is believed to have taken a loan of $1 billion from his rocket company SpaceX around the same time. According to a report published in the Wall Street Journal, SpaceX approved the loan, backed by Musk’s stocks in the company. It must be noted that Musk promptly repaid the loan with interest the very next month, in November. Musk took ownership of Twitter in October. Musk is SpaceX’s largest shareholder With 42 per cent shares, Musk is the largest stakeholder in SpaceX. He also owns almost 79 per cent of voting rights in the company as of March 2023. Interestingly, when Musk withdrew $1 billion from SpaceX, the rocket company just had $4.7 billion in cash and securities on hand. The world's wealthiest person also divested nearly $4 billion in Tesla stock in November. In total, Musk liquidated approximately $23 billion in his electric vehicle company's shares last year to support his Twitter acquisition. Watch: Elon Musk to transform X into a super app with calling feature × Around $13 billion of Musk's $44 billion Twitter takeover deal was additionally facilitated by Wall Street institutions like Morgan Stanley and Bank of America. These loans were secured by some of Musk's Tesla stock. Not Musk, Twitter is repaying debt Rather than Musk, Twitter, now X, is responsible for repaying this debt, with annual interest payments amounting to roughly $1.5 billion. Also read: Elon Musk wants to take over world`s financial system with X, hints latest biography Fidelity, a shareholder in X, has consistently reduced the company's valuation, estimating in May that it's now worth only one-third of Musk's original purchase price. Not first time This isn't the first instance of Musk borrowing from SpaceX; he previously disclosed borrowing $20 million from the company in 2009 to aid Tesla's funding. According to the latest report from the WSJ, Musk also secured three loans totalling $500 million from SpaceX between 2018 and 2020, all of which were repaid by the end of 2021. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Elon Musk borrowed $1 billion from SpaceX to support Twitter acquisition: Report

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<p>UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, his crewmates from NASA, Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev returned to Earth in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Monday, September 4.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The splashdown happened in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, at 08:17 am (UAE time). Al Neyadi's mission has become the longest in Arab history, as Crew-6 spent 186 days in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohemed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stated on X (formerly Twitter), "Al Neyadi, the people of the UAE are immensely proud of you and the entire team for achieving major advances in space exploration. You carried the dreams of a nation to new frontiers, and we celebrate your pioneering journey and safe return."</p>

<p>Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi appeared from the Dragon spacecraft one hour after the splashdown.</p>

<p>Many people witnessed AlNeyadi and his colleagues slide out of the capsule. He received people's support and greeted the gathering with a smile and thumbs up. However, his initial steps were unsteady as the astronaut needed time to readjust to gravity, especially after the six-month mission. Later, recovery personnel carried him and the crew to the medical bay on a rolling chair.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/science/bedtime-for-pragyan-rover-as-sun-sets-on-moon-here-are-its-remarkable-findings-631874" target="_blank">Bedtime for Pragyan rover as Sun sets on Moon, here are its remarkable findings</a></p>

<p>Al Neyadi said he couldn't wait to rejoin friends and family and enjoy "a hot cup of coffee." Crew-6 commander Stephen Bowen, a former submariner, told CBS News that he looked forward to witnessing "the nice ocean air and peaceful calm seas. That'll be nice to get back to." Pilot Woody Hobury said he was looking forward to a "real shower."</p>

<p>On March 2, Crew-6 was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. They spent 185 days and 22 hours in space, orbiting the Earth 2,976 times and travelling 78.9 million miles. Throughout their mission, the Crew-6 astronauts welcomed seven visiting vehicles. They also carried out three spacewalks. Al Neyadi joined Bowen for a third excursion to retrieve a failed antenna package and do other maintenance.</p>

<p>Station commander Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio were launched to the station last September and will return to Earth 12 days later. Crew-7 members, launched on August 26, will replace Bowen and company. The squad includes Crew-7 commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, his crewmates from NASA, Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev returned to Earth in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Monday, September 4.

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, his crewmates from NASA, Stephen Bowen and Woody Hoburg, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev returned to Earth in the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on Monday, September 4. The splashdown happened in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, at 08:17 am (UAE time). Al Neyadi's mission has become the longest in Arab history, as Crew-6 spent 186 days in space. The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohemed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stated on X (formerly Twitter), "Al Neyadi, the people of the UAE are immensely proud of you and the entire team for achieving major advances in space exploration. You carried the dreams of a nation to new frontiers, and we celebrate your pioneering journey and safe return." Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi appeared from the Dragon spacecraft one hour after the splashdown. Many people witnessed AlNeyadi and his colleagues slide out of the capsule. He received people's support and greeted the gathering with a smile and thumbs up. However, his initial steps were unsteady as the astronaut needed time to readjust to gravity, especially after the six-month mission. Later, recovery personnel carried him and the crew to the medical bay on a rolling chair. ALSO READ | Bedtime for Pragyan rover as Sun sets on Moon, here are its remarkable findings Al Neyadi said he couldn't wait to rejoin friends and family and enjoy "a hot cup of coffee." Crew-6 commander Stephen Bowen, a former submariner, told CBS News that he looked forward to witnessing "the nice ocean air and peaceful calm seas. That'll be nice to get back to." Pilot Woody Hobury said he was looking forward to a "real shower." On March 2, Crew-6 was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. They spent 185 days and 22 hours in space, orbiting the Earth 2,976 times and travelling 78.9 million miles. Throughout their mission, the Crew-6 astronauts welcomed seven visiting vehicles. They also carried out three spacewalks. Al Neyadi joined Bowen for a third excursion to retrieve a failed antenna package and do other maintenance. Station commander Sergey Prokopyev, Dmitri Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio were launched to the station last September and will return to Earth 12 days later. Crew-7 members, launched on August 26, will replace Bowen and company. The squad includes Crew-7 commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi & three space station fliers return to Earth after six-month voyage

<p>Four astronauts from four nations and space agencies embarked on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This venture, named Crew-7, began its journey atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:27 am ET on Saturday, media reports said.&nbsp;The Crew-7 mission features a diverse team of astronauts, Jasmin Moghbeli from NASA, Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency, Satoshi Furukawa representing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov of Roscosmos.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/with-massive-compensation-for-flyers-saudi-arabia-brings-new-aviation-rules-to-combat-flight-disruptions-629394">With massive compensation for flyers, Saudi Arabia brings new aviation rules to combat flight disruptions</a></p>

<p>Riding aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance capsule, these four space explorers commenced a mission projected to last over six months.</p>

<h2><strong>Station docking</strong></h2>

<p>Following a flawless launch, the Crew Dragon capsule detached from the Falcon 9 rocket and embarked on its autonomous journey toward the ISS which orbits approximately 220 nautical miles above Earth’s surface.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We have liftoff! Endurance ascends to space. Next stop for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crew7?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crew7</a>: the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>. <a href="https://t.co/UW5Db3HH7C">pic.twitter.com/UW5Db3HH7C</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1695337641389216243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Over the course of about 24 hours, the spacecraft will meticulously manoeuvre&nbsp;its way to the space station. The docking of the Crew-7 astronauts with the ISS is anticipated at around 8:39 am ET on Sunday.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/second-aircraft-reportedly-linked-to-prigozhin-not-linked-to-wagner-629402">Second aircraft linked to Prigozhin had no connection to Wagner: Report</a></p>

<p>Crew-7, the eighth flight facilitated by NASA and SpaceX as part of the commercial crew program, showcases the most globally diverse crew in SpaceX's history.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">After second stage separation, <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a>’s Dragon spacecraft with the four members of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crew7?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crew7</a> aboard is in orbit and set to arrive at the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> on Sun., Aug. 27. Commander <a href="https://twitter.com/AstroJaws?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AstroJaws</a> thanked all those who prepared the crew and spacecraft for flight: <a href="https://t.co/pHgZD0GA6T">pic.twitter.com/pHgZD0GA6T</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1695342702660108624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>“We are extremely proud — and I know I personally am humbled — to be a member of this incredible crew, where if you look at our four patches you’ll see a different nation’s flag on each one,” Moghbeli said adding, “We hope this represents what we can accomplish when we work together in unity and cooperate together. And we think this really is what the International Space Station is all about.”</p>

<h2><strong>Scientific exploration</strong></h2>

<p>During their 190-day stay aboard the ISS, the Crew-7 members will undertake an array of experiments and studies. Their research encompasses investigations into the removal of microorganisms from space station vents, the impact of microgravity on sleep patterns, the formation of biofilms in wastewater to find ways to recycle water and other significant scientific inquiries.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Ex-French president faces corruption charges</strong></p>

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<p>“This is something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember,” Moghbeli said at a news conference.</p>

<p>“One of the things I’m most excited about is looking back at our beautiful planet. Everyone I’ve talked to who has flown already has said that was kind of a life-changing perspective," she added.&nbsp;</p>

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Four astronauts from four nations and space agencies embarked on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This venture, named Crew-7, began its journey atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:27 am ET on Saturday, media reports said.

Four astronauts from four nations and space agencies embarked on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This venture, named Crew-7, began its journey atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:27 am ET on Saturday, media reports said. The Crew-7 mission features a diverse team of astronauts, Jasmin Moghbeli from NASA, Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency, Satoshi Furukawa representing the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Russian cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov of Roscosmos. Also Read | With massive compensation for flyers, Saudi Arabia brings new aviation rules to combat flight disruptions Riding aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endurance capsule, these four space explorers commenced a mission projected to last over six months. Station docking Following a flawless launch, the Crew Dragon capsule detached from the Falcon 9 rocket and embarked on its autonomous journey toward the ISS which orbits approximately 220 nautical miles above Earth’s surface. We have liftoff! Endurance ascends to space. Next stop for #Crew7: the @Space_Station. pic.twitter.com/UW5Db3HH7C — NASA (@NASA) August 26, 2023 × Over the course of about 24 hours, the spacecraft will meticulously manoeuvre its way to the space station. The docking of the Crew-7 astronauts with the ISS is anticipated at around 8:39 am ET on Sunday. Also Read | Second aircraft linked to Prigozhin had no connection to Wagner: Report Crew-7, the eighth flight facilitated by NASA and SpaceX as part of the commercial crew program, showcases the most globally diverse crew in SpaceX's history. After second stage separation, @SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft with the four members of #Crew7 aboard is in orbit and set to arrive at the @Space_Station on Sun., Aug. 27. Commander @AstroJaws thanked all those who prepared the crew and spacecraft for flight: pic.twitter.com/pHgZD0GA6T — NASA (@NASA) August 26, 2023 × “We are extremely proud — and I know I personally am humbled — to be a member of this incredible crew, where if you look at our four patches you’ll see a different nation’s flag on each one,” Moghbeli said adding, “We hope this represents what we can accomplish when we work together in unity and cooperate together. And we think this really is what the International Space Station is all about.” Scientific exploration During their 190-day stay aboard the ISS, the Crew-7 members will undertake an array of experiments and studies. Their research encompasses investigations into the removal of microorganisms from space station vents, the impact of microgravity on sleep patterns, the formation of biofilms in wastewater to find ways to recycle water and other significant scientific inquiries. Watch | Ex-French president faces corruption charges × “This is something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember,” Moghbeli said at a news conference. “One of the things I’m most excited about is looking back at our beautiful planet. Everyone I’ve talked to who has flown already has said that was kind of a life-changing perspective," she added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

NASA's SpaceX Crew-7 mission takes off! Takes four astronauts to ISS aboard Falcon 9

Four astronauts — representing four nations and space agencies across the globe — launched aboard a SpaceX rocket toward the International Space Station, kicking off a mission expected to last more than six months.

SpaceX launches truly international astronaut team on Crew-7 flight to space station for NASA

<p>NASA and SpaceX are all set to re-attempt sending the next crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mission which has been dubbed Crew-7 will be launched on Saturday. Here's all you need to know about it.</p>

<h2><strong>Crew 7</strong></h2>

<p>The crew-7 mission will include four astronauts: Jasmin Moghbeli from the USA who will command the mission, Andreas Mogensen of Denmark, Satoshi Furukawa of Japan and Konstantin Borisov of Russia.</p>

<p>Lift-off as per the news agency report is planned for Saturday (August 26th), at 3:27 am (07:27 GMT) from Florida's NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A. Sunday (August 27th) has been designated as the backup opportunity.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-finally-congratulates-india-for-chandrayaan-3-success-china-still-mum-629091">Pakistan finally congratulates India for Chandrayaan-3 success, China still mum</a></strong></p>

<p>Crew-7 is&nbsp;the seventh routine mission to the International Space Station for Elon Musk's SpaceX. The first mission happened back in 2020.</p>

<p>The crew members will join seven colleagues who are aboard the ISS. After a few days, the previous occupants, who reached the orbital platform with Crew-6 mission, will leave for Earth.</p>

<h2><strong>Experiments in Space</strong></h2>

<p>The crew will spend six months aboard the&nbsp;orbital platform, and will carry out science experiments. Among these&nbsp;experiments is one which will have them&nbsp;collecting samples during a spacewalk.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This, as per AFP, will help determine whether the ISS releases microorganisms through its life support system vents, and will help scientists understand if these microorganisms can survive and reproduce in space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another important experiment the ISS crew will undertake includes the assessment of physiological differences between sleep on Earth and in space.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/out-of-this-world-scientists-have-found-who-should-not-go-to-mars-says-report-629039">Out of this world: Scientists have found who should NOT go to Mars</a></strong></p>

<p>Borisov, who will be embarking on his first ever space mission, said: "I'm looking forward to coping with all the tasks. This is a very interesting profession: you are preparing for something that you haven't tried yet, and you really want to do it well."</p>

<p>This is also Moghbeli's first space mission. During a media call last month, the American astronaut said, "This is something I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember."</p>

<p>"One of the things I'm most excited about is looking back at our beautiful planet," she said, adding, "Everyone who I've talked to who has flown already has said that was a life-changing perspective -- and also floating around in space, it seems really fun."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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NASA and SpaceX are all set to re-attempt sending the next crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission which has been dubbed Crew-7 will be launched on Saturday.

NASA and SpaceX are all set to re-attempt sending the next crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission which has been dubbed Crew-7 will be launched on Saturday. Here's all you need to know about it. Crew 7 The crew-7 mission will include four astronauts: Jasmin Moghbeli from the USA who will command the mission, Andreas Mogensen of Denmark, Satoshi Furukawa of Japan and Konstantin Borisov of Russia. Lift-off as per the news agency report is planned for Saturday (August 26th), at 3:27 am (07:27 GMT) from Florida's NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A. Sunday (August 27th) has been designated as the backup opportunity. Also read | Pakistan finally congratulates India for Chandrayaan-3 success, China still mum Crew-7 is the seventh routine mission to the International Space Station for Elon Musk's SpaceX. The first mission happened back in 2020. The crew members will join seven colleagues who are aboard the ISS. After a few days, the previous occupants, who reached the orbital platform with Crew-6 mission, will leave for Earth. Experiments in Space The crew will spend six months aboard the orbital platform, and will carry out science experiments. Among these experiments is one which will have them collecting samples during a spacewalk. This, as per AFP, will help determine whether the ISS releases microorganisms through its life support system vents, and will help scientists understand if these microorganisms can survive and reproduce in space. Another important experiment the ISS crew will undertake includes the assessment of physiological differences between sleep on Earth and in space. Also read | Out of this world: Scientists have found who should NOT go to Mars Borisov, who will be embarking on his first ever space mission, said: "I'm looking forward to coping with all the tasks. This is a very interesting profession: you are preparing for something that you haven't tried yet, and you really want to do it well." This is also Moghbeli's first space mission. During a media call last month, the American astronaut said, "This is something I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember." "One of the things I'm most excited about is looking back at our beautiful planet," she said, adding, "Everyone who I've talked to who has flown already has said that was a life-changing perspective -- and also floating around in space, it seems really fun." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA, SpaceX set sight on Saturday launch of Crew-7 to International Space Station

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<p>The US Justice Department on Thursday (August 24) sued Elon Musk's SpaceX over hiring practices. In a statement, the Justice Department said that it filed a lawsuit against SpaceX for discriminating against asylees and refugees in hiring. "The lawsuit alleges that, from at least September 2018 to May 2022, SpaceX routinely discouraged asylees and refugees from applying and refused to hire or consider them, because of their citizenship status, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)," the statement said.</p>

<p>The statement added that over several years, SpaceX wrongly claimed that under federal regulations known as “export control laws,” it could hire only American citizens and lawful permanent residents, sometimes referred to as “green card holders.”</p>

<p>"Export control laws impose no such hiring restrictions," the department further said.</p>

<h2><strong>The investigation</strong></h2>

<p>Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said on Thursday the department's investigation found that SpaceX failed to fairly consider or hire asylees and refugees because of their citizenship status and imposed what amounted to a ban on their hire regardless of their qualification, in violation of federal law.</p>

<p>"Our investigation also found that SpaceX recruiters and high-level officials took actions that actively discouraged asylees and refugees from seeking work opportunities at the company," Clarke added.</p>

<h2><strong>The discrimination during stages of hiring process</strong></h2>

<p>The lawsuit alleges that SpaceX discriminated against asylees and refugees based on citizenship status at multiple stages of the hiring process. SpaceX discouraged asylees and refugees from applying for open positions, it failed to consider applications submitted by asylees and refugees, and it also hired only American citizens and lawful permanent residents, from September 2018 to September 2020.</p>

<p>"The United States seeks fair consideration and back pay for asylees and refugees who were deterred or denied employment at SpaceX due to the alleged discrimination. The United States also seeks civil penalties in an amount to be determined by the court and policy changes to ensure it complies with the INA’s nondiscrimination mandate going forward," the statement further said.</p>

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The US Justice Department on Thursday (August 24) sued Elon Musk's SpaceX over hiring practices. In a statement, the Justice Department said that it filed a lawsuit against SpaceX for discriminating against asylees and refugees in hiring.

The US Justice Department on Thursday (August 24) sued Elon Musk's SpaceX over hiring practices. In a statement, the Justice Department said that it filed a lawsuit against SpaceX for discriminating against asylees and refugees in hiring. "The lawsuit alleges that, from at least September 2018 to May 2022, SpaceX routinely discouraged asylees and refugees from applying and refused to hire or consider them, because of their citizenship status, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)," the statement said. The statement added that over several years, SpaceX wrongly claimed that under federal regulations known as “export control laws,” it could hire only American citizens and lawful permanent residents, sometimes referred to as “green card holders.” "Export control laws impose no such hiring restrictions," the department further said. The investigation Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said on Thursday the department's investigation found that SpaceX failed to fairly consider or hire asylees and refugees because of their citizenship status and imposed what amounted to a ban on their hire regardless of their qualification, in violation of federal law. "Our investigation also found that SpaceX recruiters and high-level officials took actions that actively discouraged asylees and refugees from seeking work opportunities at the company," Clarke added. The discrimination during stages of hiring process The lawsuit alleges that SpaceX discriminated against asylees and refugees based on citizenship status at multiple stages of the hiring process. SpaceX discouraged asylees and refugees from applying for open positions, it failed to consider applications submitted by asylees and refugees, and it also hired only American citizens and lawful permanent residents, from September 2018 to September 2020. "The United States seeks fair consideration and back pay for asylees and refugees who were deterred or denied employment at SpaceX due to the alleged discrimination. The United States also seeks civil penalties in an amount to be determined by the court and policy changes to ensure it complies with the INA’s nondiscrimination mandate going forward," the statement further said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US Justice Department sues Elon Musk's SpaceX over hiring practices

<p>SpaceX confirmed the launch of 21 new Starlink satellites into orbit&nbsp;early Tuesday (August 22), after a days-long delay due to the impact of Hurricane Hilary. This marks the 15th launch and landing of the Falcon 9 rocket.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About the delayed launch</strong></h2>

<p>A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink spacecraft was launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States, on Tuesday at 5:37 am (local time), reported Space.com. This comes after the rocket was originally supposed to launch on early Thursday (August 17) but was delayed due to the impact of Hurricane Hilary on rocket recovery operations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Due to Hurricane Hilary impacting recovery operations in the Pacific, we are standing down from tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of Starlink,” said SpaceX, on X (formerly Twitter), on Thursday.&nbsp;<br />
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Liftoff! <a href="https://t.co/AvzApSXTnU">pic.twitter.com/AvzApSXTnU</a></p>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1693920692704776232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Storm Hilary, downgraded from a hurricane, flooded streets, downed power lines and triggered mudslides across Southern California on Monday (August 20), after unleashing record-breaking rain overnight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was after the hurricane lost strength off the coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula before making landfall in the North American mainland.</p>

<h2><strong>SpaceX recovers Falcon 9 booster</strong></h2>

<p>Typically, SpaceX recovers its Falcon 9 boosters by landing them on a drone ship around eight minutes after the launch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similarly, in this case, Falcon 9’s first-stage boosters returned to Earth and landed on the company’s drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ (OCISLY) about 8.5 minutes after the launch.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship <a href="https://t.co/DwgDDCC895">pic.twitter.com/DwgDDCC895</a></p>
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1693922954000879680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>OCISLY is a SpaceX autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) that is operated out of the Port of Long Beach, California, which was previously based in Florida from 2015 to 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the report, this was SpaceX’s 15th launch and landing for this particular booster just one short of its reuse record held by two different Falcon 9 first stages.<br />
<br />
In a later update, SpaceX took to the microblogging platform and&nbsp;said "Deployment of 21&nbsp;@Starlink satellites confirmed."</p>

<p>So far, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched around 5,000 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO) with the permission to deploy as many as 12,000 Starlink satellites.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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SpaceX confirmed the launch of 21 new Starlink satellites into orbit early Tuesday (August 22), after a days-long delay due to the impact of Hurricane Hilary. This marks the 15th launch and landing of the Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX confirmed the launch of 21 new Starlink satellites into orbit early Tuesday (August 22), after a days-long delay due to the impact of Hurricane Hilary. This marks the 15th launch and landing of the Falcon 9 rocket. About the delayed launch A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Starlink spacecraft was launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States, on Tuesday at 5:37 am (local time), reported Space.com. This comes after the rocket was originally supposed to launch on early Thursday (August 17) but was delayed due to the impact of Hurricane Hilary on rocket recovery operations. “Due to Hurricane Hilary impacting recovery operations in the Pacific, we are standing down from tonight’s Falcon 9 launch of Starlink,” said SpaceX, on X (formerly Twitter), on Thursday. Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/AvzApSXTnU — SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 22, 2023 × Storm Hilary, downgraded from a hurricane, flooded streets, downed power lines and triggered mudslides across Southern California on Monday (August 20), after unleashing record-breaking rain overnight. This was after the hurricane lost strength off the coast of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula before making landfall in the North American mainland. SpaceX recovers Falcon 9 booster Typically, SpaceX recovers its Falcon 9 boosters by landing them on a drone ship around eight minutes after the launch. Similarly, in this case, Falcon 9’s first-stage boosters returned to Earth and landed on the company’s drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ (OCISLY) about 8.5 minutes after the launch. Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship pic.twitter.com/DwgDDCC895 — SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 22, 2023 × OCISLY is a SpaceX autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) that is operated out of the Port of Long Beach, California, which was previously based in Florida from 2015 to 2021. According to the report, this was SpaceX’s 15th launch and landing for this particular booster just one short of its reuse record held by two different Falcon 9 first stages. In a later update, SpaceX took to the microblogging platform and said "Deployment of 21 @Starlink satellites confirmed." So far, Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched around 5,000 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO) with the permission to deploy as many as 12,000 Starlink satellites. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH | SpaceX launches 21 Starlink satellites after delay, lands rocket at sea

<p>People across the world turned their attention to the night sky when the Perseid meteor shower peaked on August 12 and 13 and so did this one telescope in Hawaii, United States which coincidentally captured an impressive sight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It just so happens that while the Subaru Telescope in Mauna Kea, Hawaii was recording the ongoing, Perseid meteor shower during its peak also captured a parade of 15 dots moving across the night sky – no this was not a natural phenomenon or alien spaceships – but Space X’s Starlink satellites.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Watch the video here!</strong></h2>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Fairly bright and impressive’</strong></h2>

<p>The footage was posted on August 17 on YouTube by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) with the caption, “A group of 15 satellites by SpaceX (STARLINK) passed the evening sky over Subaru Telescope, Maunakea, Hawaii, on Aug 12, 2023.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We did a special live streaming of the night sky over the Subaru Telescope at the peak days of the Perseid Meteor Shower. This was the view captured by the live by coincidence. They were fairly bright and impressive,” it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-perseid-meteor-shower-begins-peaking-as-celestial-spectacle-624783">Perseid meteor shower begins peaking as celestial spectacle</a></strong></p>

<p>The Subaru Telescope is a very large optical infrared telescope and one of the largest monolithic mirrors in the world installed near the summit of Mauna Kea&nbsp;in Hawaii, according to the NAOJ website. Therefore, its powerful light-collecting capability can capture weak light from celestial objects.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Perseid meteor shower</strong></h2>

<p>According to the American space agency NASA, a Perseid meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through the debris trail from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, causing particles left behind by the comet to interact with the atmosphere causing bright streaks of light in the sky.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-perseid-meteor-shower-peaks-lights-up-skies-across-the-world-625147/#its-far-from-over-625146">Perseid meteor shower peaks, lights up skies across the world</a></strong></p>

<p>On August 12 and 13, the Perseids, which orbit the sun every 133 years, streaking across the sky at 60 kilometres per second from mid-July to the end of August, peaked. People from across the world could observe the Perseid meteor shower with the naked eye or through a telescope over that weekend.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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People across the world turned their attention to the night sky when the Perseid meteor shower peaked on August 12 and 13 and so did this one telescope in Hawaii, United States which coincidentally captured an impressive sight.

People across the world turned their attention to the night sky when the Perseid meteor shower peaked on August 12 and 13 and so did this one telescope in Hawaii, United States which coincidentally captured an impressive sight. It just so happens that while the Subaru Telescope in Mauna Kea, Hawaii was recording the ongoing, Perseid meteor shower during its peak also captured a parade of 15 dots moving across the night sky – no this was not a natural phenomenon or alien spaceships – but Space X’s Starlink satellites. Watch the video here! × ‘Fairly bright and impressive’ The footage was posted on August 17 on YouTube by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) with the caption, “A group of 15 satellites by SpaceX (STARLINK) passed the evening sky over Subaru Telescope, Maunakea, Hawaii, on Aug 12, 2023.” “We did a special live streaming of the night sky over the Subaru Telescope at the peak days of the Perseid Meteor Shower. This was the view captured by the live by coincidence. They were fairly bright and impressive,” it added. ALSO READ | Perseid meteor shower begins peaking as celestial spectacle The Subaru Telescope is a very large optical infrared telescope and one of the largest monolithic mirrors in the world installed near the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, according to the NAOJ website. Therefore, its powerful light-collecting capability can capture weak light from celestial objects. Perseid meteor shower According to the American space agency NASA, a Perseid meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through the debris trail from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, causing particles left behind by the comet to interact with the atmosphere causing bright streaks of light in the sky. ALSO READ | Perseid meteor shower peaks, lights up skies across the world On August 12 and 13, the Perseids, which orbit the sun every 133 years, streaking across the sky at 60 kilometres per second from mid-July to the end of August, peaked. People from across the world could observe the Perseid meteor shower with the naked eye or through a telescope over that weekend. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH | ‘Impressive’ meteor shower and satellite ‘train’ caught on camera

SpaceX launches largest private communications satellite Jupiter 3. It is designed to provide internet services in North and South America. Satellite was launched using a Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center.

SpaceX launched world’s largest private communications satellite

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